This morning I woke up feeling like a truck had rolled over me! I ached in places I didn’t know could ache. Dr. Barbara (bet you didn’t know I am doctor—which I am NOT!) has decided I have a case of “Jammed Travel Schedule-Office Cleaning–Domestic disagreement-itis”! I decided to slow down today, the first day of the new and why-are-we-doing-this-early Daylight Savings time.

I tried to focus on soothing things. While breathing deeply and listening to meditative music, my mind floated to a tranquil memory of strolling the grounds of Oberoi’s Udaivilas with floral scents wafting through the air…and then I bolted upwards and my body went back into the “I’ve got to get this done” mode. How could I blog for what 2++ weeks and not have blogged about India? I mean, we’re getting to know each other, right? This is where we share our likes and dislikes–figure out whether we’re a good fit or whether you’re off to somewhere else in Blogland and I haven’t shared my passion for India??? A definite faux pas! So. still trying to “take it easy” I will share with you an article I wrote last September (almost six months ago to the day) about our visit to this amazing country. Without further ado, I present:

Today’s quiz: 1) What is the world’s largest democracy and largest English speaking nation? 2) Name the country that had the first university in the world; 3) the country which was the only source of diamonds until 1896; and 4) the country that is home to some of the finest hotels and resorts in the world? Hint—they are all the same country! Don’t you just hate pop quizzes? I do, too! The above facts and many more were tidbits I learned on my recent journey to India! Rich, cultured, amazing, incredible, delicious, and fascinating—all of those words describe my experience. From visiting a mosque that can accommodate 25,000 worshippers at a time in Old Delhi (where the electrical wiring strewn across the hundreds years old buildings resembles a ball of twine) to riding an elephant up the hill to the Amber Fort, I was in awe. Add to that a culinary delight mixing elegant continental cuisine and Indian delicacies, croissants and ten types of Indian bread. How about waking up in the early morning in the lap of luxury fifty meters from Taj Mahal watching the sun’s rays bounce off the domed roof? Consider being greeted by a parade of Indian dancers, musicians, costumed elephants and camels as we arrived by boat at Udaivilas, on the banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur of Rajasthan,! I wish I could describe here in detail the love affair that has blossomed between this wonderful and mysterious country and me, but the editor told me 500 words!
Using frequent flyer miles, we upgraded from coach to business class on our non-stop flight from Chicago to Delhi (I highly recommend the upgrade), we were able to rest very comfortably and we arrived refreshed and ready to explore India. Everywhere we were met by friendly people, people who exhibited a sense of spirituality and grace. We traveled by various modes—train, rickshaw, planes, elephants, and car—saw World Heritage sites, colorful garb, dazzling gemstones, incredible monuments, a variety of monkeys and other wildlife, and lots of cows. By numbers the population of India is staggering and, yet, we often experienced a feeling of tranquility and space only usually found on exotic island destinations. Our host resorts were all part of the Oberoi group, known for their luxury accommodations and some of the best hotels I’ve ever found. My personal favorite, Udaivilas, ranked as the 6^th top hotel in the world, boasts 30 acres and only 87 rooms. They even have a space, The Candle Room, exclusively for atmosphere and meditation. Every evening, a caretaker lights over 100 candles placed in varying heights on a large round table. Their glow is reflected on the silver glass inlayed domed ceiling and words cannot describe the mesmerizing effect!
Raju, our guide with Cox & Kings (a travel company founded in 1758 and one of our favorites!), explained that India is steeped in tradition and has a rich and complex culture. Perhaps, I was influenced by Raju’s handlebar mustache and his gentle Ghandi-esque demeanor; I know for a fact that when he clasped his hands together and bowed, “Namaste” (“The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you”), our souls, our cultures, and our countries became forever entwined!